Sport Updates
Same-day match highlights, records, team news and results from across the sports you follow.
Hemp's Brace Leads Man City's Comeback Win Over Arsenal to Stay Perfect in WSL
Manchester City came from behind twice to beat Arsenal 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium. The result kept City's Women's Super League season perfect after five matches. Lisa Baum put Arsenal ahead in the 43rd minute. Alessia Russo restored their lead in the 49th minute after a mistake from Yui Hasegawa in the City box. Arsenal controlled the game for a spell after that second goal. City's coach Andree Jeglertz then made a triple substitution that changed the match. Kerstin Casparij came off the bench and helped City find an equaliser. Lauren Hemp gave City the lead for the first time in the 72nd minute, slotting the ball through the goalkeeper's legs for her second goal of the game. Khadija Shaw added a fourth in the 84th minute to settle the contest. City have now won all five of their opening league fixtures. They sit 10 points clear of Arsenal, who have managed just one league win all season. It is the third time City have started a WSL campaign with five straight wins, after doing so in 2016 and 2017-18.
Japan Beat China for Women's Softball Gold
Hosts Japan won the women's softball gold at the Asian Games, beating China in the final, with Chinese Taipei taking bronze. The win continues Japan's strong recent record in the sport, which has been a mainstay of the Asian Games programme for the region's traditional softball powers.
Takhmina Ikromova Defends Rhythmic Gymnastics All-Around Gold, China Win Group Title
Uzbekistan's Takhmina Ikromova defended her Asian Games individual all-around rhythmic gymnastics title, beating China's Wang Qi and Wang Zilu , who took silver and bronze respectively. Ikromova, the 2022 Asian Games all-around and team gold medallist, arrived in Nagoya as the reigning Asian champion, having swept every individual title at this year's continental championships in Bishkek. China had their own moment in the group all-around final, however, topping the podium ahead of hosts Japan and Kazakhstan .
Japan and Qatar Win First-Ever Padel Golds as Sport Makes Historic Asian Games Debut
Japan and Qatar won the first-ever padel gold medals at the Asian Games, with the sport making its historic debut on the continental stage in Nagoya. In the women's pairs final, Japan's Saki Tsukamoto and Kae Tokumoto won gold, with Indonesia's Fadona Kusumawati and Fitriani Sabatini taking silver, and compatriots Novela Putria and Beatrice Gumulya claiming bronze. In the men's final, Qatar's top-seeded brothers Mashari and Rashed Naif won gold, with Malaysia's Christian Chin taking silver and Iran's Farsad Shahi and Amirmohammad Jamshidi bronze. Padel's inclusion follows its recent addition to the Mediterranean and South American Games, with 88 competitors from 13 nations taking part across the men's and women's draws at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center. The Naif brothers arrived as favourites, having previously won silver at the inaugural Asian Padel Championships in Doha.
South Korea Win Historic Fourth Straight Men's Football Gold, Japan Defend Women's Title
South Korea and Japan split the Asian Games football golds, with the South Korean men winning a historic fourth straight title and Japan's women successfully defending theirs on penalties. In the men's final at Toyota Stadium, South Korea's Swansea City forward Eom Ji-sung struck against the run of play in the 61st minute to earn a 1-0 win over hosts Japan, who had Uche Nwadike stretchered off with a knee injury in the first half. It is South Korea's fourth consecutive men's gold, following Incheon 2014, Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and Hangzhou 2022, and the third straight final they have won against Japan. The victory also secures the South Korean squad military service exemptions under national law. In the women's final two days earlier, hosts Japan beat North Korea 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw through extra time, with Yuzuho Shiokoshi scoring the decisive spot kick. It was Japan's fourth Asian Games women's title, extending a rivalry in which the two sides had shared the previous six editions' gold medals three apiece before this result.
India Complete Hockey Golden Double, Women End 44-Year Wait as Men Defend Title
India completed a hockey golden double at the Asian Games, with the women beating China 1-0 to end a 44-year wait for gold on Friday, before the men defended their title with a 5-1 rout of Malaysia on Saturday, both results securing direct qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics. The men's team, captained by Harmanpreet Singh , went through the tournament unbeaten, surviving a dramatic 4-3 semi-final against arch-rivals Pakistan before dominating Malaysia in the final. It is India's fifth Asian Games men's title, adding to their wins in 1966, 1998, 2014 and 2022, and a successful defence of the gold they won at Hangzhou. The women's win was the more historic of the two, their first Asian Games hockey gold since 1982 and ending defending champions China's reign at the top. India went through their campaign unbeaten as well, having earlier beaten South Korea in the semi-final. It marks the first time since 1998 that both India's men's and women's hockey teams have reached the Asian Games final in the same edition, and the first time both have won gold together.
Shigeyuki Nakarai Defends Breaking Gold as Asian Games Debut Crowns Its First Champions
Japan's Shigeyuki Nakarai , known as B-Boy Shigekix, defended his Asian Games breaking title, winning the B-Boys gold to go with the one he won at Hangzhou 2022, with South Korea's Hongyul Kim taking silver and China's Ruimiao Wang bronze. In the B-Girls final, China's Guo Pu , known as B-Girl Royal, won gold, with Japan's Ayumi Fukushima taking silver and Guo's compatriot Liu Qingyi , a Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist, completing the podium in bronze. Breaking made its Asian Games debut at these Games, having featured once at the Olympics in Paris before being dropped from the Los Angeles 2028 programme. Nakarai, 22, remains one of the sport's most recognisable competitors worldwide, having also reached the men's semi-final at the Paris Olympics.
Kane Reaches 89 Goals, Bellingham Shines as England Thrash Croatia 7-0
England inflicted Croatia's heaviest-ever defeat with a 7-0 thrashing at a near-empty Stadion Rujevica in Rijeka, as Harry Kane reached 89 international goals and Jude Bellingham produced a goal and three assists in a dominant Nations League performance. The match was played behind closed doors under a UEFA sanction imposed on Croatia following crowd trouble at last season's Nations League quarter-final against France. Kane opened the scoring inside eight minutes, finishing a Bellingham through-ball, before Bellingham himself doubled the lead in the 21st minute at the end of a flowing 27-pass move. Anthony Gordon made it three just before the half-hour, and Bukayo Saka added a fourth right on the stroke of half-time to put the game beyond doubt. Kane and Saka both struck again after the break, before substitute Morgan Rogers completed the rout with a seventh in the 87th minute. Kane's brace extended his all-time England scoring record to 89 goals and means he has now scored in six consecutive competitive away internationals. The result moved Thomas Tuchel's side up to second in Group A3 on six points, three behind leaders Spain, who beat Czechia 3-1 on the same night, with England closing out the international window against the Czech Republic at Wembley.
Ndoye and Janza Own Goal Give Switzerland Perfect Start With Slovenia Win
Switzerland stayed perfect in the Nations League, coming from behind to beat Slovenia 2-1 in Luzern. The win keeps them top of Group B1 with nine points from three matches. Slovenia shocked the hosts with an early goal through Zan Vipotnik , who struck inside the first two minutes. Switzerland responded well. Erik Janza turned the ball into his own net in the tenth minute to level the scores. Dan Ndoye put the hosts ahead just before half-time, finishing off a pinball scramble in the box after a pass meant for Zeki Amdouni fell kindly. It was Switzerland's third straight win of this campaign and their seventh victory in the last nine meetings with Slovenia. The result ended Slovenia's own unbeaten start to the tournament. Switzerland sit clear at the top of the group, with Scotland and Slovenia level on four points behind them.
Robertson's 100th Cap Marked With Win as Scotland Beat North Macedonia 2-0
Scotland beat North Macedonia 2-0 in Skopje, giving head coach Sebastien Pocognoli his first win in charge. Captain Andy Robertson marked the occasion by winning his 100th cap. Robertson became only the second Scotland player to reach a century of appearances, after Kenny Dalglish's 102. He looked sharp throughout, firing in several early efforts before Kieron Bowie broke the deadlock with a well-taken strike. John McGinn doubled the lead in the 69th minute, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for his 27th international goal. It was Scotland's first win and first goal since the World Cup in June. They had gone four matches without finding the net before this result. North Macedonia, who had not won a match themselves in over a year, pushed hard for a way back but could not break down a well-organised Scotland defence. "It means everything to me, and it means everything to my family," Robertson said after the match.
Yamal and Rodri Fire Spain Past Czechia, Unbeaten Run Hits 41 Games
Spain made it three wins from three in the Nations League, beating Czechia 3-1 in Oviedo to stay top of Group A3 with nine points. The result stretched the world champions' unbeaten run to 41 matches. Lamine Yamal broke the deadlock inside six minutes, cutting in from the right and curling a finish into the far corner. It was his third goal in as many Nations League games this campaign. Rodri doubled the lead in the 35th minute, pouncing on a loose ball inside the box and sweeping it into the top corner. Czechia pulled one back through Jiri Slama , who finished well after being played in by Adam Hlozek. Their comeback hopes faded when Ladislav Krejci was sent off for a second booking. Substitute Mikel Merino settled the contest late on, firing home a rebound in the 89th minute. Spain's perfect start puts them three points clear of second-placed England , who thrashed Croatia 7-0 on the same night. Czechia remain bottom of the group without a point.
Samuel Lino Scores First Brazil Goals as Brazil Thrash India 4-0 in Kolkata
Brazil beat India 4-0 in the first-ever senior men's meeting between the two nations, in front of a packed Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday, October 3. Estevao and Pedro put the five-time world champions 2-0 up before Samuel Lino added a second-half double to complete the scoring. Both of Lino's goals were his first for the Brazil senior team, a landmark night for the Flamengo forward on his first start since being called up for Carlo Ancelotti's post-World Cup squad. The result extended India's winless run against South American opposition, with the hosts, coached by Khalid Jamil, unable to lay a glove on their highest-ranked opponents since the FIFA World Rankings began in 1992. Brazil arrived in Kolkata unbeaten since their round-of-16 exit to Norway at the 2026 World Cup, having drawn with and then beaten Australia either side of the trip to India, and the win continues a perfect start to this international window for Ancelotti's rebuilding squad. For India, the match was framed less around the scoreline and more around the occasion itself, with tickets for the game selling out within minutes and Kolkata's long-standing passion for Brazilian football on full display. Raphinha missed the trip after being withdrawn from the squad with a minor thigh issue picked up against Australia, while India will have little time to dwell on the margin of defeat, with a friendly against two-time world champions Uruguay following in the same city on October 6.
Shai Hope's Unbeaten 162 Powers West Indies to 5-Wicket Win, India's Lead Cut to 2-1
West Indies produced their best performance of the series to beat India by 5 wickets in the 3rd ODI at the PCA International Stadium, New Chandigarh, chasing down 352 with 10 balls in hand to reduce India's series lead to 2-1. Put in to bat after India won the toss, the hosts were rocked early as Shubman Gill (1) and Virat Kohli (0) fell inside the first three overs to Jayden Seales. Rohit Sharma (92) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (57) steadied things with a 137-run stand, and KL Rahul then took over, smashing an unbeaten 129 off just 87 balls studded with 10 fours and 6 sixes. Late cameos from Naman Dhir (30) and Anshul Kamboj (17 off 9) pushed India to 351 for 7, with Seales finishing with 3 for 62. Chasing a stiff target, West Indies lost John Campbell early for 10, but Shai Hope anchored the innings from the top, batting through to finish unbeaten on 162 off 143 balls, the highest score of the match. He found support from Amir Jangoo , who made a run-a-ball 67 before being run out, and then from Keemo Paul , whose 44 off 35 kept the required rate under control. Sherfane Rutherford (24) and Matthew Forde (7) chipped in before Gudakesh Motie's unbeaten 19 off 14 sealed the chase in 48.2 overs. India's bowling was shared around, with Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav and Naman Dhir all picking up a wicket apiece, but none of them could break Hope's grip on the innings. With this result, India's lead in the five-match series is cut to 2-1 after West Indies bounced back strongly following heavy defeats in the first two games. Shai Hope's unbeaten 162 stands out as the standout individual effort of the series so far, and the momentum has clearly shifted ahead of the 4th ODI, where India will look to respond and close out the series.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius Smashes 188 Not Out, Breaks Chris Gayle's T20 World Record
Lhuan-dre Pretorius smashed the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket history, blasting an unbeaten 188 off just 79 balls for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge in Bloemfontein, breaking a record that had stood for 13 years. The 20-year-old went past Chris Gayle's famous 175 not out, made for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL. Pretorius reached fifty off just 24 balls, raced to his century in 40 balls, and brought up 150 in 58 deliveries, hitting 15 fours and 13 sixes along the way. He fell just 12 runs short of becoming the first man to score a T20 double century, as his side ran out of overs with the Titans posting 267 for 3, the second-highest total in the tournament's history. The innings also eclipsed Dewald Brevis's 162, the previous record for the highest individual score in the CSA T20 Challenge. Pretorius, a Rajasthan Royals player in the IPL, has now built a reputation as one of the format's most destructive young talents, having already set the record for the youngest T20I centurion from a Full Member nation earlier this year.
Anshul Kamboj Makes ODI Debut as Siraj Returns, Prasidh Krishna Out With Hamstring Injury
Anshul Kamboj made his ODI debut for India in the series-deciding third ODI against West Indies in New Chandigarh, receiving his cap from Virat Kohli, as Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy also returned to the playing XI. Kamboj was drafted in as a late injury replacement after Prasidh Krishna was ruled out with a left hamstring injury sustained during the second ODI in Guwahati. The 25-year-old Haryana pacer was pulled out of India A's four-day game against Australia A in Puducherry on Friday and flew straight into the squad, having taken 116 wickets in 38 first-class matches for Haryana. Siraj, who had been on the bench for the first two matches, came into the XI in place of the injured Krishna rather than Kamboj, who took the spot of Auqib Nabi. India had already sealed an unassailable 2-0 series lead, with the third ODI marking the first men's ODI played at the New PCA Stadium. West Indies made three changes of their own, bringing in Jewel Andrew, Matthew Forde and Gudakesh Motie.
Rohit Sharma Becomes Fastest Opener to 10,000 ODI Runs, Breaks Tendulkar's Record
Rohit Sharma broke Sachin Tendulkar's 22-year-old record for the fastest 10,000 ODI runs by an opening batter, reaching the milestone in just 202 innings during the third ODI against West Indies in New Chandigarh. Rohit needed only two runs to reach the mark and got there with a flick off Jayden Seales in the third ball of India's innings. He beat Tendulkar's previous record of 214 innings, set against Australia in Brisbane back in January 2004, by 12 innings. Chris Gayle (268 innings) and Sanath Jayasuriya (303) are the only other openers to have reached the landmark. He is the fourth batter in men's ODI history to cross 10,000 runs as an opener. The milestone comes two days after he struck a 75-ball century in the second ODI, during which he also became the third Indian batter after Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to reach 12,000 career ODI runs.
Abhishek Sharma Hits 400 Career T20 Sixes and 100 in 2026 During Asian Games Final
Abhishek Sharma broke two major six-hitting records during his innings of 61 off 28 balls for India against Pakistan in the Asian Games gold medal match at Korogi Sports Park, striking 7 sixes and 3 fours. During the knock, Abhishek became the second-fastest player in T20 history to reach 400 career sixes , needing 3,513 balls faced, behind only Andre Russell's 3,027 and ahead of Chris Gayle's 3,557. He also crossed 100 T20 sixes in the 2026 calendar year , taking 651 balls to get there, the second-fastest pace behind Russell's 589 balls in 2019 and just ahead of Dewald Brevis's 653 in 2025. The milestone also makes Abhishek the first batter in history to hit 100 or more T20 sixes in two consecutive calendar years, having also reached three figures in 2025. With four more sixes needed to beat his own Indian record of 108 in a single year, he remains on pace to break that mark before 2026 is out.
Joohyung Kim Wins Men's Golf Gold, China Take Team Title
Joohyung Kim won the men's individual golf gold at the Asian Games, with China completing a double by taking the men's team title. Kim finished ahead of Japan's Kazuki Higa, with Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana taking bronze in the individual event. In the team competition, China won gold ahead of South Korea, with Japan taking bronze.
China's Chu and Zhang Win Final Sport Climbing Golds
China won the two remaining sport climbing golds at the Asian Games, with Shouhong Chu taking the men's speed title and Yuetong Zhang winning the women's boulder final. In the men's speed final, Chu beat Iran's Reza Ali Pour Shenazandi Fard, with Kazakhstan's Damir Toktarov taking bronze. In the women's boulder final, Zhang beat Japan's Ai Mori, with South Korea's Chaehyun Seo completing the podium in bronze. The results give China two golds across the discipline's four events, alongside Japan's win in the men's boulder and Indonesia's in the women's speed.
China, Kazakhstan, Iran and Uzbekistan Share Taekwondo Kyorugi Golds
Taekwondo's kyorugi competition produced four golds for four different nations at the Asian Games, with China , Kazakhstan , Iran and Uzbekistan each topping a weight category. China's Jingyue Ma won women's -49kg gold, Kazakhstan's Tamirlan Tleules topped the men's -58kg podium, Iran's Saghar Moradi Sheikhlari won women's -67kg, and Uzbekistan's Jasurbek Jaysunov claimed men's -80kg gold. The Philippines' Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape also added a gold in the mixed individual virtual taekwondo event, having earlier taken bronze in the men's poomsae final.
India Defend Asian Games Cricket Gold, Beat Pakistan by 19 Runs Despite Hasan Nawaz's Heroic 96
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Gold Medal Match to defend their Asian Games cricket title, chasing down a nervy finish against a brilliant Pakistan fightback at Korogi Sports Park. Batting first, India posted a commanding 211 for 6 in their 20 overs. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a blistering 61 off 28 balls including 7 sixes, and Tilak Varma finished unbeaten on 51 off 22 to power India past the 200 mark, with Arafat Minhas and Ahmed Daniyal the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with two wickets apiece. Pakistan's chase looked out of reach for long periods, but Hasan Nawaz produced a sensational 96 off just 51 balls, striking 5 fours and 7 sixes, to drag his side within sight of an improbable win. Axar Patel , Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube picked up two wickets each to restrict Pakistan to 192 for 6, with Nawaz left stranded as India held on for a 19-run victory. The win gives India back-to-back gold medals in men's cricket at the Asian Games, while Sri Lanka had earlier claimed bronze with a 63-run win over Bangladesh.
Lewandowski Hat-Trick Fires Poland to 6-0 Win Over Ten-Man Romania
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as Poland beat ten-man Romania 6-0 in Warsaw on Friday, October 2, to claim their first win of the UEFA Nations League B Group 4 campaign. It is also Poland's first win in eight Nations League matches. The turning point came midway through the first half. Romania defender Radu Dragusin was sent off for a foul on Lewandowski inside the box, and the Poland captain scored the penalty in the 24th minute. He added a second in the 47th minute. Virgil Ghita then put through his own net in the 49th minute after a shot from Przemyslaw Frankowski deflected in. Piotr Zielinski volleyed in the fourth in the 62nd minute, and Jan Bednarek made it 5-0 four minutes later. Lewandowski completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute with a finish from inside the area. The 38-year-old, who plays for Chicago Fire, now has 92 goals in 170 international appearances . He picked up his second yellow card of the campaign and will miss Monday's match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Poland have four points from three matches after a goalless draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina and a 3-1 defeat away to Sweden. They sit third in the group and are back in contention for promotion to League A, having been relegated from the top tier in the last campaign. Romania have lost all three of their games and are bottom without a point. Sweden lead the group after drawing 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Edin Džeko's farewell international match.
Edin Džeko Retires From International Football After 152nd Bosnia Appearance
Edin Džeko has retired from international football after making his 152nd and final appearance for Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 1-1 draw with Sweden in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, October 2. The 40-year-old Schalke striker started the match at Bilino Polje in Zenica, where fans chanted his name throughout. Fireworks lit up the stadium in the 11th minute in honour of his number 11 shirt. Džeko appeared to score in first-half injury time, but the goal was ruled out because the ball had gone out of play before the delivery from Kerim Alajbegović . He was substituted shortly after the hour mark as the whole stadium applauded him. The draw leaves Bosnia and Herzegovina unbeaten in Nations League B Group 4, where Sweden still lead by two points. Džeko returns to Schalke after ending his international career. He won the Bundesliga title with Wolfsburg in 2008-09. In the other Group B4 match that night, Poland beat Romania 6-0 behind a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski . Poland play Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, and Lewandowski will miss that match through suspension.
Kevin De Bruyne Scores Twice as Belgium Beat Türkiye 3-0
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice as Belgium beat Türkiye 3-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Friday, October 2, at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne in Liège. The goals were the 200th and 201st of the 35-year-old's career for club and country. De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 10th minute. He played a one-two with Dodi Lukebakio and finished from the edge of the box. His second came just before the hour mark. Youri Tielemans won the ball back and laid it off, and De Bruyne curled a shot into the top-left corner. Substitute Romelu Lukaku sealed the win in the 76th minute, converting a cut-back from Charles De Ketelaere . Lukebakio hit the woodwork twice, and goalkeeper Senne Lammens kept out Yunus Akgun at the other end. Türkiye created chances, with Arda Guler setting up five, but could not score. De Bruyne was playing his 127th match for Belgium and was replaced in the 82nd minute. It was the first home win for head coach Mark van Bommel , who said of his captain: "Kevin De Bruyne always wants to play." Belgium have two wins and a defeat under him, the loss coming 1-0 in France. The result lifts them to six points, one behind Group A1 leaders France , who drew 1-1 with Italy on the same night. Türkiye are without a point from their first three games under Vincenzo Montella , following their group-stage exit at the World Cup. Belgium face France at the Stade de France on Monday in the final game of the international window.